Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer on trading Freddie Ljungberg

(How did it work out where Freddie Ljungberg would stay in MLS and go to a team you’re playing twice in the upcoming months?) “I think I would answer that by saying it was a collaborative effort all along. Freddie expressed interest in staying in the league and we’ve been working with him and his representatives to help accomplish that. Do I look forward to facing him twice this year? Not really. But I think it’s good for the league to have another quality star in the league instead of one going out of the league. I have a lot of respect for Freddie. I wish him all the best other than the two games he plays us.”

(There’s been some concern and question on the compensation that team got back in return for Ljungberg, what can you say about your end of the trade?) “Given that we had come to this point, where Freddie was away from the team, we have started focusing on group that was there. The results started to come and we’re playing a good brand of soccer right now. We’re getting results and always want to keep getting more. … We had multiple discussions, but ultimately this was the deal was the appropriate one to take. Part of that was based on fact that with moving Freddie off the roster, we’ve been able to move Alvaro (Fernandez) on the roster. Now Alvaro can play in San Jose.”

(Did this move come about recently?) “We’d had conversations off and on with various entities. There wasn’t really anything solid until the last couple of days. For Freddie’s sake and the team’s sake, we didn’t want to drag this on all summer. A part of this was a timing issue, and we’re very excited on getting Alvaro on roster.”

(On Ljungberg’s legacy in Seattle despite recent friction) “I tend to leave legacy for those who are around for their whole career, but his impact on an expansion franchise was significant. On and off the field, he was a very respected representative of this club. He was always professional. No one can question his passion on the pitch and I know our fans appreciated that. He obviously had a big role in that dream expansion season, which includes our U.S. Open Cup championship.”

(So you didn’t have to pay that luxury fee did you and how does that affect matters for bringing in a third DP?) “We didn’t have to pay luxury fee, but that fee is not going to high-center us on signing a third DP or not. The part that we would get high-centered on the ability to manipulate the cap that first gets us space on the short-term but also allows us to keep to long-term future of the club in perspective. You can do the math, $335K times three is a million. With a $2.55 million salary cap, that’s close to 40-percent. I know it’s being done in other markers, and we may do it, but it’s a challenge.”

(On Fredy Montero as a possible third DP) “Fredy is definitely a maturing and developing talent. I love Fredy. I loved him for the first moment he played for us. I know the fans have been on him, they want him shipped out, but then they want a statue built for him. I see a superstar emerging and maturing. He’s young still, so he’s going to be inconsistent and not as mature as an older player. All that said I would love to keep Fredy Montero here in Seattle for as many years as possible. How we ultimately accomplish that, as a DP or not a DP, we’ll work through internally. We’re very interesting in retaining Fredy Montero here as long as possible.”